Mastering SAT Vocabulary Skills

Analyze the following scenario: A student is trying to decide between two colleges. One offers a full scholarship but is far from home, while the other is close to home but offers no financial aid. What strategic thinking process should the student use to make a decision?

• List the pros and cons of each option and evaluate which aligns best with long-term goals.

• Choose the college that friends are attending.

• Select the college with the best sports team.

• Flip a coin to decide.

Which word best fits the following sentence? "The CEO's _______ decision to expand the company led to increased profits."

• impetuous

• judicious

• reckless

• hasty

Which word best completes the sentence? "The _______ of the novel was praised for its originality and depth."

• banality

• cliché

• ingenuity

• predictability

Evaluate the following statement: "To improve public health, cities should invest in more green spaces and promote active transportation." What type of reasoning is required to support this statement?

• Speculative reasoning

• Evidence-based reasoning

• Emotional reasoning

• Anecdotal reasoning

Which word best fits the following sentence? "The scientist's theory was considered _______ because it was based on untested assumptions."

• empirical

• speculative

• pragmatic

• definitive

Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to "aberration."

• norm

• anomaly

• regularity

• standard

Identify the antonym of "prolific."

• productive

• barren

• fertile

• abundant

Choose the word that is most similar in meaning to "ephemeral."

• eternal

• transient

• substantial

• permanent

Which word best completes the sentence? "The _______ nature of the task required careful planning and execution."

• facile

• arduous

• trivial

• mundane

Which of the following sentences uses the word "cogent" correctly?

• The cogent aroma of the flowers filled the room.

• Her cogent argument convinced everyone in the room.

• He was cogent to the idea of going to the beach.

• The cogent weather made it a perfect day for a picnic.